Mets' Jeremy Hefner, a former Padres farmhand, beats former team, 6-2

Jake Roth/US PresswireStarter Jeremy Hefner allowed just one run in six inning against San Diego, which drafted him in 2007

SAN DIEGO — You could not call this a homecoming. Mets starter Jeremy Hefner never pitched here, even if he spent five seasons laboring toward that goal. And you could not call it revenge, this 6-2 victory over the Padres, because Hefner understood why San Diego dumped him this past offseason.

You could call a happy ending to Hefner’s brief stint in the Mets rotation, a six-inning effort in front of 36,826 fans at Petco Park. Hefner gave up one run while earning his second victory as a big-leaguer. In the process, he cemented his status as the team’s go-to option for a spot starter down the road.

His performance sustained the Mets on a quirky night. The lineup benefited from Padres starter Edinson Volquez’s dreadful outing, punctuated by a two-run, second-inning double from Jordany Valdespin. Outfielder Mike Baxter tied a franchise record with five walks. Closer Frank Francisco picked up a two-pitch save.

The Padres couldn’t dent Hefner, the 26-year-old rookie making the sixth start of his career. San Diego chose him in the fifth round of the 2007 draft. The club bounced him from their 40-man roster last November after he experienced a rough 2011 campaign in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He eventually landed with the Mets as a waiver claim.

His time in the starting rotation appears to be up. Johan Santana (sprained ankle) leaves the disabled list later this week. The team set Saturday as the target date for his return. He makes a three-inning rehabilitation start today for Class-A Brooklyn. “Johan’s a way better pitcher than I am,” Hefner said.

But for one evening, a crisp one in downtown San Diego, Hefner enjoyed his spot in the rotation. He did not need to miss bats against the Padres’ feeble lineup. Hefner picked up 12 outs on ground balls.

And his offense granted him an early advantage.

Volquez played a role in that. He leads the majors in walks. He combusted in the second inning. He issued four walks, as Josh Thole and Ruben Tejada drove in runs with their patience. The breakthrough belonged to Valdespin.

Valdespin is not renowned for his patience. But he laid off a pair of low curveballs. He swung through a fastball. Then he punched another fastball into right field.

In the seventh, Daniel Murphy doubled. He scored on a groundout by Thole. Ike Davis added an RBI single the following inning. Right after Davis’ hit, Baxter took his fifth walk. His teammates ribbed him about his patience. “Way to swing it,” they told him.

Collins then watched as reliever Bobby Parnell created a save situation in the ninth. He gave up a solo homer, then put two more runners on base. Into the game came Francisco, who missed all of July with a strained oblique. Soreness now resides in his lat muscle. He said he felt no soreness on the mound, needing just two pitches to get a game-ending double play.

“I think (today) is going to be a great day,” Francisco joked. “Because I threw a lot of pitches.”

• Matt Harvey will make his Citi Field debut this Friday night against the Braves. Harvey makes his third start as a Met today at Petco Park.

Zack Wheeler makes his Triple-A debut in Buffalo today.

• Jason Bay sat on the bench for last night’s game. Collins cited the talent of right-hander Volquez as the reason for starting left-handed hitters Baxter and Valdespin.